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Alvin ISD hires trio of principals
Published March 13, 2008
ALVIN — Alvin ISD Superintendent Robby McGowen had a tough first week on the job.
The district’s new top administrator began working full time with his administrative staff last week and had to hire principals for two elementary schools and a junior high — all during TAKS testing week.
“It was busy,” McGowen said. “There’s not a more important decision I will make than hiring principals. Of course we had TAKS test starting last week, so I actually stayed off the campuses because I didn’t want to be a distraction.
“I really worked a lot here in the office and getting to know the office staff really well,” McGowen said.
At a Tuesday meeting, trustees named current Alvin Junior High Assistant Principal Trent Thrasher as the school’s new principal. Current Passmore Elementary Assistant Principal Carol Nelson will be principal of Alvin Elementary and current Hood Case Elementary Assistant Principal Kim Smith will be principal of Don Jeter Elementary.
McGowen interviewed applicants late last week for principal openings at the three schools. The schools had openings after the district moved the current principals from those schools to Lakes of Savannah Elementary, Nolan Ryan Junior High and Fairview Junior High. All three schools will open this summer.
“I chose them because they were the best candidates that I looked at,” McGowen said. “They proved in their years here and from other districts that they can lead a campus, that they can put student academic performance first and that they care about relationships with children. It’s all about the individual child.”
Thrasher, 37, of West Columbia has been Alvin Junior High’s assistant principal for four years, and he is excited about the opportunity to lead a school.
“I’ve waited a long time for this,” Thrasher said. “I see a lot of change in the district. It’s a great place to work.”
Alvin resident Carol Nelson, 42, said when she takes over as Alvin Elementary’s principal, one of the biggest challenges will be moving the graduating youngsters from Alvin Primary over to her school.
“I’m interested in the changes, working together with an excellent team that’s already in place and transitioning our second-graders from Alvin Primary over to Alvin Elementary,” Nelson said.
Nelson has 20 years experience in education and has served three years as an assistant principal.
“I expect to just be an effective instructional leader and working together with the teachers there at campus for student success and student performance, building a community of learners,” Nelson said.
Kim Smith, 44, of Pearland said when trustees named her principal of Don Jeter Elementary, it was a dream come true. She is in her fifth year as Passmore Elementary’s assistant principal and has 19 years experience in education.
“I waited for this and worked for this for so long,” Smith said.
“My goal is to be the very best school in Alvin, and eventually the state. We have high goals. We are reaching for the top.”
McGowen said he hadn’t necessarily been looking to hire three people who currently work in the district. They simply were the best of the applicants.
“We had some great candidates from outside the district,” McGowen said. “If I had more than three positions to fill, I may have hired some of them. But the top three were the people that we named here tonight.”
McGowen plans to tour the district’s 22 schools after spring break and meet teachers and department heads. During his tour, he wants employees to approach him with any concerns they have so the administrative staff can provide answers.
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